I ordered a couple of WS2812B on Aliexpress more than THREE months ago. Boy what trouble that has conjured up!

The seller on Aliexpress now probably thinks I’m a crook, because I missed an email that asked me to provide the customs forms to prove my shipment was held by them. Sometimes I get so many emails that I must have missed it. Oh well… I’ll have to get in touch with him (or her) and sort things out.

The final ruling by the HZA: I’ll have to pay 19% import tax, then can pick up my stuff and leave. Yay.

Last night I experienced a slight audible annoyance, coming from the #ISML power supply (5V-3A). Shortly thereafter the light literally went out, permanently. I noticed a very faint smell of burnt electronics, but delayed the autopsy until today.

Now there’s the option to add a bluetooth module (HC-05, JY-MCU “ZS-040″), which supports remote code upload, or a WiFi module (ESP8266-1) using a small adapter with integrated 3.3V regulator. The WiFi module requires quite a bit of current, so the on-board 3.3V regulator feeding the ATmega168P can’t handle that.

The bluetooth module should allow remote control from Android phones, the WiFi module should allow remote control using a web browser. All of this will be quite “interesting”, as coding applications is not what I usually do.